Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya is scheduled to attend the 4th ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council Meeting in Da Nang, Viet Nam on 15-16 August 2010. The meeting will be chaired by Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
At this ASCC Council meeting, the Ministers responsible for ASCC will follow up progress of the implementation of the Blueprint for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community as well as discuss and exchange views on the ASCC prioritized areas for 2010, which include: 1) coping with global challenges (i.e. pandemic diseases, climate change, disaster management); 2) human resources development for economic recovery; 3) enhancement of social welfare and development of ASEAN women and children; and 4) enhancement of cultural cooperation towards creating ASEAN awareness and building an ASEAN Community.
In addition, the Council will consider 2 draft documents to be adopted by the 17th ASEAN Summit, namely, 1) ASEAN Leaders’ Joint Statement on Human Resources and Skills Development for Economic Recovery and Growth, and 2) ASEAN Declaration on the Enhancement of Welfare and Development of ASEAN Women and Children. The Council will also consider the draft ASEAN-Russia Agreement on Cultural Cooperation.
The ASCC Council Meeting is held at the ministerial level twice a year, as stipulated in the ASEAN Charter. Thailand hosted the 1st and 2nd ASCC Council Meetings in 2009 when it served as the ASEAN Chair. The primary goal of the ASCC is to contribute to realising an ASEAN Community that is people-centred and socially responsible with a view to achieving enduring solidarity and unity among the nations and peoples of ASEAN by forging a common identity and building a caring and sharing society which is inclusive and harmonious where the well-being, livelihood, and welfare of the peoples are enhanced.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th